Students in grades 8-12 become legislators, lawyers, judges, lobbyists, journalists, or cabinet members and spend four days running a state model government at the Minnesota State Capitol. Students elect their own leaders, debate their own ideas, and support policies and laws that highlight their values.
Students in grades 7-12 take on the role of a diplomat from one of 193 countries and spend three days exploring solutions to international challenges in downtown Minneapolis. Students discuss and debate global issues, pass resolutions, form alliances, and draft legal opinions while practicing cooperation and diplomacy.
A structured, content-neutral classroom discussion model that gives students a framework to speak from their own experience, listen carefully to others, and ask questions of genuine interest. Participants deepen their connections with peers and develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding.
Elementary, middle, and high school students across the state learn about the candidates and offices on the ballot in their community and cast their vote on or before Election Day through Students Voting, an authentic, hands-on mock election program.
Serve as a student election judge and get paid to help run a polling place on Election Day in your community.
A five-day conference in the mountains of North Carolina where students from Minnesota and Wisconsin join over 600 peers from Youth in Government programs across the country to debate national and international issues and develop a strong sense of camaraderie.
More than 500 high school students from across the state convene at the Minnesota State Capitol to learn how to effectively advocate for the issues they care about and to practice their advocacy skills in meetings with their local legislators.
High school students from across the country compete in mock trial and appellate court proceedings at the YMCA National Judicial Competition at the Minnesota Capitol Complex. Students practice and refine their advocacy skills and receive valuable feedback from volunteer evaluators from the Minnesota legal community.